Song:I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
Album:Platinum & Gold Collection
Of course Aretha Franklin is The Queen Of Soul known mostly for her classic hits on Atlantic Records in the 60s. But she scored some hits in the 80s including I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) in 1987, a duet with the popular British pop singer George Michael. By the late 70s, Aretha's career had faded mostly because of the rise of disco. Her most recent success was her 1975 album of Curtis Mayfield's songs from the film Sparkle. This coincided with producer Jerry Wexler leaving Atlantic for Warner Bros. in 1976. Atlantic even reunited Aretha with Mayfield for the 1978 album Almighty Fire. It bombed. Then they got her to record disco with Van McCoy for the 1979 album La Diva. McCoy died a month after the album was recorded. Skip Scarborough was brought in to finish the album. It did so poorly that Aretha left Atlantic for Arista in 1980. She also got a big boost with her appearance in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. She had modest success with her first four Arista albums working with producers like Arif Mardin and Luther Vandross. But then Aretha really clicked with Narada Michael Walden. Walden was a jazz drummer who had success producing teen R & B singer Stacy Lattisaw. Aretha thought Walden could give her a more contemporary sound. He produced most of the 1985 album Who's Zoomin' Who. Freeway Of Love reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. And Aretha also scored with the singles Who's Zoomin' Who and Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves with The Eurythmics. Walden also produced the 1986 album Aretha. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) topped the Billboard Hot 100. It was Aretha's first number one hit since Respect in 1967. Michael had just left the duo Wham! and wanted to launch his solo career with a big bang. And of course he really wanted to sing with Aretha and kids bought Aretha because he was on it. I Knew You Were Waiting was written by the team of Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan. Climie is a Brit who had success with the late 80s duo Climie Fisher. Morgan is a Nashville session musician who co-wrote the Barbara Mandrell hit Sleeping Single In A Double Bed. Aretha faded after that though she has made occasional chart appearances. This budget comp covers her Arista recordings. After some recent health problems, Aretha released the CD Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics on RCA last year. And she still does occasional concerts. Here's the video for I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin featuring George Michael.
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